oe STATLIUGNY GF UNDLESTANDING ON THE PART OF THE GOVFISIMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE COVERAMENT OV THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS CONCERNING THE MOVE OF THE PEOPLE OF BIKINI ISLAND, AUGUST, On August 11, 1978, 1978 the Undersecretary of the Deparcment Interior, James A. Joseph, of the the Deputy Undersecretary, Wallace Green, and the Director of the Office of Territorial Affairs, Ruch G. Van Cleve, journeyed to Bikini Island to meet with its current residents. of their meecing was to convey information on the subject of The purpose the forthcoming move by the people of Bikini Island to Kili Island, and to respend to qucstions and hicar concerns put to them by the people of Bikini [sland. had carliec, on August They 7, held a similar meeting with former residents of Bikini who now reside on Kili. The High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Adrian P. Winkel, had been prevented vy bad weather in Saipan from joining in the visit to Bikini Island, but he had earlier mee with the people of Rikini, as well as with other Bikinians on Kili. In 1946, U. the people of Bikini were removed from their atoll by the S. Navy in order to enable the United States tu use the atoll for a nuclear testing program which lasted until 1958. The islanders were moved first to Rongerik, then to Kwajalein, and ultimately to Kili. 1960's, In the late it appeared chat levels of radiation on Bikini atcll were such that the people could return co and use a number of the major islands of the atoll. Beginning in 1969, a clean-up of che atoll and @ rehabilitation program was begun. In the early 1970's, some Bikini people were employed in the profect and the nikhgnd fsluud population increased to appiwsdauiely iso in ly/6. In 1977, the intake of radionuclides by the people living on Bikini Island had inereased to alarming proportions, and a major feeding program was instituted. April, 1978 surveys showed that the feeding program had not resulted Oey ee: 1 +o soe gee ey oO ae pee 1 ae a